Tube closure



` Oct. 5, 1-937. -D. M. GUNN TUBE CLOSURE Filed sept; e, 1955 y i M 5mm Patented Oct. 5, 1937y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,094,700 TUBE cLosURE Danion Mott Grunn,A New Haven, Conn. Application vSeptember 6, 1935, Serial No. 39,476

y 1o claims.y (01.221-60) The invention forming the subject matter of the present application is an evolutionary improvement upon the devices described and claimed in my Patents No. 1,879,205, granted September 27, 1932 and No. 1,992,067, granted February 19, 1935. p.

The closures for flexible tubes and the like coveredin both of *the above patents are founded upon the principle of providing a deformable body defining a chamber having an inwardly opening inlet valve communicating with the vbody Vof fluid in the tub-e, and a discharge valve, said valves opening simultaneously in response to deforming pressure upon the body and the capacity of the. chamber being diminished by the deforming pressure and remaining below normal capacity until near the end of the valve closing movement at which time the chamber re-assumes its normal capacity creating a slight vacuum which is countedupon to draw in excess fluid which mayhave lodged along the lips of the outlet valve, thus keeping the discharge Valve always in clean operative condition and not clogged or held open by the dried substance from the tube.

provision of a valve and chambered closure, as

described, adapted to be employed with a necky One of the specific objects of the invention is l to provide in combination with a neckless tube having a shoulder, a deformable closure therefor having la conical collar tting against the inner surface of said shoulder, forming at the same time a seal to prevent leakage of the con- `tents of the tube between the closure and shoulder` and being interlocked with the shoulder to safeguard it against being expelled through pressure from within.

Another object of the invention ternal annular collar or overhang adapted in the installation of the closure to be squeezed in through the opening in the top of the tube and to expand over the edge of the shoulder soas to prevent the closure being displaced inwardly.v A further object of the invention is the provi- 55 -s'ion of a tube closure having an external de- The present invention has for its object the is to provide y a closure of the class described having an ex-r formable wall and an inner partitionv defining With said wall a chamber, said partition being suitably slitted so as to constitute a downwardly opening valve and so structurallyrelated to the Wall of said chamber as to open when the wall of said chamber isadepressed, said wall being provided in its upper face with one or more slit-type valves normally closed, but opening responsive to the deforming pressure which opens the inlet valve, said slit-type valves lying preferably substantially perpendicular to the direction of the deflectable edge of the inlet valve.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a flexible closure having the inlet and discharge valves as indicated, in the lowerI and.V upper `walls of a deformable chamber and having a mechanical operator adapted to press upon the kwall of said closure in an endwise direction` with respect to the slit-type valve or valves for opening said valves to permit the discharge of the contents of the tube, it being understood that in all the `forms of the invention it is preferred that the volume of the chamber shall diminish under the deforming pressure which opens the valves and shall not re-assume its normal capacity until the valves are about to close so that the vacuum thusengendered within the chamber yshall suck in any surplus material which may adhere to the tube adjacent the slit-type valves.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of the preferred and practical embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of the following specification and throughout the several figures of Which the same characters of reference 'have been employed to designate identicalparts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a neckless ilexible tube equipped with the flexible closure embodying .the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through that yform of the invention shown in Figure 1;-

Figure 3 is a cross section Itaken along the line 3 3k of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspectiveview of a slightly modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical section of that form of the invention shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a cross section taken along the lin 6-6 of Figure 5. i

Referring now in detail to thevseveral figures, the` numeral I represents a flexible tube such as is' customarily used to contain tooth paste,

shaving cream, etc., which in the interest of simplicity of construction and cheapness to manufacture is neckless, that is to say, it is provided with an upwardly tapering shoulder 2, but does not have the customary cap-engaged threaded neck. It is obvious that a tube of this nature requires a special type of closure which it is the object of the present invention to provide.

The numeral 3 represents the closure. It is preferably of elastic deformable material such as rubber, but it may be made of any other substance which is the equivalent of rubber in possessing these characteristics. The closure 3 comprises an upwardly convergent annular base 4 which is preferably substantially co-extensive with the shoulder 2 and similarly bevelled or tapered. The exterior portion of the closure comprises a dome-shaped wall 5 which extends upwardly from the periphery of the neck of the tube and forms the external portion of the closure. A transverse partition 6 extends across the closure at a point preferably along the line of juncture between the wall 5 and the base 4, but the exact position of the partition 6 is not material to the invention. The exterior wall 5, together with the partition 6, defines a chamber 1. The exterior wall 5 is provided with one or more slits 8 which in the normal unstressed position of the Wall 5 remain closed, but when deforming pressure is brought to bear upon the wall 5, particularly in a direction endwise with respect to the ends of the slits, they open providing for the discharge of the contents.

The partition 6 has a transverse slit 9 extending through it and said slit is preferably perpendicular to the slits 8. In that form of the invention illustrated in Figures l, 2, and 3, the partition 6 is slitted adjacent its middle thus dividing it into two valves III and II which open downwardly to the position shown at I2 in Figure 2, -thus placing the-.chamber 1 in communication with the body of uid in the tube I. In order that pressure upon the external Wall 5A shall open the valves IIJ4 and lII, the upper faces of these valves are joined to the external wall of the closure at points in the regions to be pressed by iiexible rubber webs or braces I3 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It being assumed thatthe tube I is filled with shaving cream, for example, the tube, with closure, is rubbed against the face in a direction such that portions I4 and I5 of the wall 5 overlying the braces I3 impinge against the face slits 8 and the valves I0 and-II to simultaneously open permitting the contents of the tube to enter the chamber 1- and to pass out through the slits 8 onto the face.` When the pressure is released, the valves I0 and II being preferably slightly sturdier than the wall 5, ny back to closing position before the discharge slits 8 have reached their closing position. The result is that the body of fluid within the chamber 1 is segregated from the reservoir of fluid contained in the tube I, the partial vacuum which is formed when the chamber 1 resumes its originalcapacity drawing in whatever excess of material may linger around the slits 8, thus keeping the slits 8 clean and clear and in good condition to shut, thereby preserving the consistency of the fluid within the chamber 1 by preventing its drying out as is the fault with present-day containers when one forgets to screw on the cap. i

Figure 3 shows that in addition to the slit 9, the meeting edges of which constitute the active edges of the valves I0 and II, said valves are peripherally, partially separated from the surrounding structure by arcuate slots I6 and I1 which permit the free operation of the said valves.

The -perpendicular relation of the slits which constitute the inlet and discharge valve openings assures that both valves shall be positively opened substantially simultaneously by pressure upon the wall 5 which is in contradistinction to the former mode of opening the slit-type discharge valve by drawing the lips of said valve apart through friction against the face.v

It will be observed in Figure 2 that the peripheral portion of the shoulder of the tube is slightly thickened so as to provide a llet or bead I8 having an underlying shoulder I9 which engages a peripheral groove 20 in the base 4. The closure is also provided with an outwardly extending annular bead 2I which is capable of being forced through the opening in the tube bounded by the fillet I8 and to expand on the outside of that fillet as shown, so that the closure cannot inadvertently be displaced inwardly by excess pressure of the same against the face or against the tooth brush as the case may be.

In Figures 4,-5, and 6, the structure is quite similar to that illustrated in the first described group of figures, excepting that the transverse slit 22 in the partition 6 is formed adjacent one edge of the partition 6 instead of at its center. This provides only a single valve 23 which is connected to the exterior wall 5 by a brace.

Since it is quite conceivable that Where the device of the invention is used in connection with a tube of dental cream, the mere pressure of the closure against the tooth brush may not sufllce to open the slit-type valves 8 or the inlet valve 23. It may therefore be advantageous to provide a mechanical presser which as shown is constituted by a piece of metal strip material 25 plvoted with respect to a lug 2S, the latter being carried by the tube. The strip material 25 has substantial width as shown at 21 in Figures 4 and 6, and is preferably actuated by means of a finger piece 28 which as shown may conveniently be a piece of the same strip material as the presser 25.

In all forms of the invention, it will be understood that the slit-type valves 8 automatically close when pressure upon the walls is released and the user of a tube equipped with a closure of the present invention is saved the onus of care in replacing the cap each time the tube is used. This makes the invention particularly valuable in the packaging and vending of tooth paste designedV for use by children who notoriously forget to close the tube after using, so that the material soon dries out, occludes the discharge passage in the tube so that the tube has to be discarded and its contents wasted.

It is within the purview of the invention to coat the inner surfaces of the closure or such portions thereof as come continually in contact with the contents with parafline or other protective agent to prevent the deterioration of the closure through chemical agencies which may be incorporated in the contents of the tube.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodimentof my invention, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction as shown and described are merely by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a flexible neckless tube container having a frusto-conical shoulder, terminatingin an opening at the upper end of said shoulder, a deformable closure insertable from Within said tube comprising an. upwardly. tapered annular base sealingly engaging vthe inner face of said shoulder, said shoulder` being formed at an intermediate zone with a downwardly directed annular ledge, said base having an annular groove interlocking with said ledge to prevent the precession of said closure beyond the position in which it is so interlocked, said closure having a portion projecting through the opening at the top of said shoulder, said portion havinga slittype valve.

2. In combination, a flexible tube container and deformable closure therefor, as claimed in claim 1, said closure-having an external bead adapted to 4be forced through said opening and to expand overthe edge of said shoulder to prevent inadoperating pressure. l l

3. In combination, a flexible tube container and deformable closure as claimed in claim 1, said closure having an external bead adapted to be forced through said opening and to expand over the edge of said shoulder .to prevent inadvertent recession of said closure under excess operating pressure, said deformable closure having the elas- `vertent recession of said closureundei` excess tic, deformable, and sealing characteristics of rubber. y 4. A closure for a flexible tube of the type havl ing a frusto-conical shoulder, the upper edge of which defines an opening but being neckless, said `closure comprising almass of elastic deformable material such as rubber havinga frusto-conical thin walledv base adapted to engage the inner surface of the shoulder of said tube, and a portion above said base adapted to extend through the opening defined by the upper edge of said shoulder, said upwardly extending portion having a slit-type valve including an interior partition defining with said upwardly extending portionv a chamber with the slit-type valve adjacent the top thereof forming a discharge valve for said chamber, said Apartition being transversely slitted to form an intakevalve therefor.

5. A closure as claimed in claim 4, including abrace joining said partition and said upwardly extending portion for operating said intake valve responsive to deforming pressure upon said upwardly extending portion.

6. A closure as claimedli-in claiml 4, including a brace joining said partition and said upwardly extending portion for operating said intakeivalve responsive to deforming pressure upon said upwardly extending portion, the transverse slit constituting said intake valve lying in a direction substantially perpendicular to the slit-type valve in said upwardly extending portion, and said brace lying in a plane parallel to said slittype valve.

7. lA closure as claimed in claim 4, the slit in said partition defining two intake valves for said chamber alternatively openable by pressure selectively applied to one of the other sides of said upwardly extending portion, and flexible braces joining said valves with said upwardly extending portion in the regions designed to be pressed.

8. A closure as claimed in claim 4, said tapered shoulder having an interior circumferential ledge, said base having a groove adapted to cooperate with the ledge and an outwardly extendingbead above said groove adapted to overlie the upper edgeof said shoulder.

9. In combination, a. flexible tube container having an upwardly tapered annular shoulder and terminating in an opening at the upper end of said shoulder, a deformable closurecomprising an upwardly tapered annular base sealingly engaging the inner face of said shoulder, and having a portion projecting through said opening, said portion having a slit-type valve, an interior partition between said base and upwardly extending portion, defining with said projecting portion a chamber of which the slit-type valve4 forms the discharge valve, said partition being transversely slitted. to form an inlet valve, the slit in said transverse portion being substantially perpendicular to the slit-type valve in said projecting portion,v a flexible brace joining said valve to said projecting portion, said brace being in a plane parallel to said slit-type valve, and a mechanical operator movably secured to said tube and engageable with said projecting Vportion in the region of juncture of said brace.

10. In combination, a flexible tube container having an upwardly tapering annular shoulder terminating in an opening at the upper end of said shoulder, a deformable closure comprising outwardly extending annular base sealingly engaging the inner face of said inward annular shoulder, and having a portion projecting through said opening, said portion having a slit-type valve, vand means connected to said upwardly extending portion, and depressible responsive to deformation of said upwardly extending portion, said means forming an interior partition between said base and upwardly extending portion, defining a chamber between said partition and upwardly extending portion, placing said chamber in communication with said container when depressed. e

DAMON MOI'T GUN N 

